Stars to remember actor Woodward

Stars are to celebrate the life and work of late actor
Edward Woodward at an event in London.

The veteran actor, best known for his roles in occult classic film The Wicker Man and TV show The Equalizer, died in November at the age of 79.

Stars are to celebrate the life of actor Edward Woodward

His widow, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em actress Michele Dotrice, has organised the commemoration at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London.

Celebrities expected to attend include sitcom star June Whitfield, Over The Rainbow judge Sheila Hancock , comic actor Simon Pegg and TV presenter Paul O’Grady . Edward’s family will also take part.

Edward’s breakthrough came in the 1960s and early 1970s in spy series Callan. One of his most celebrated roles was in 1973 film The Wicker Man, in which he played a devout Christian police officer who meets a horrific end after being drawn into investigating the disappearance of a young girl in a sinister community.

Robin Hardy, who directed The Wicker Man, said previously of Edward: “He was one of the greatest actors of his generation, without any question, with a broad career on American television as well as British film.”

Edward sealed his international success in the 1980s in hit US TV series The Equalizer, playing a former spy turned gun-for-hire.

He joined EastEnders for a short stint as Tommy Clifford. EastEnders star Barbara Windsor, who had also worked with Edward previously in musicals, said in November: “I have such fond memories of our time working together.”

The actor scooped Golden Globe success for The Equalizer and won an Emmy for Remembering World War II. He was honoured with an OBE in 1980 and more recently appeared in Hot Fuzz, starring Pegg. Organisers said admirers and well-wishers were welcome to attend the event.